Cleaning mitt

ABSTRACT

A cleaning mitt with an opening for insertion of the user&#39;s hand, a section for the palm and fingers of the user, and at least two thumbholes which allow the mitt to be rotated on the user&#39;s hand to expose different surface areas without removing the mitt. The cleaning mitt constructed from a unitary tubular piece of terry cloth or acrylic/polyester blend material. The material has a smooth surface and an opposing fabric looped surface. When formed, the cleaning mitt of the present invention has the smooth surface on the interior and the fabric looped surface on the exterior to facilitate the collection of dust and dirt. The cleaning mitt is reversible so it may be used with either side turned out and on either hand. All of surface area of the mitt may be utilized by the user to collect dust and dirt by rotating the cleaning mitt sequentially and placing a thumb into another one of the thumb holes. This process is repeated until all of surface area has been used for cleaning.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/804,698, filed Jun. 14, 2006, which is herein incorporated in itsentirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cleaning device, and more particularly, to amitt for cleaning, dusting, polishing and buffing a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a multitude of cleaning devices in the marketplace forcleaning, dusting, polishing and buffing. These devices include cloths,gloves and mitts. The cleaning devices of the prior art have severaldisadvantages. Cleaning cloths permit the users' hand to come intocontact with the cleaning solution and/or the surface to be cleaned.Cleaning gloves, by having defined finger and thumb compartments, areoriented such that only one side of the device may be used to clean asurface. In order to use both sides, the glove must be removed andtransferred to the other hand, which is an awkward process. Cleaningmitts often do not have a means to secure the mitt on the users' hand.Thus, there is a tendency for the mitt to slide off the users' hand whencleaning a surface.

What is needed, therefore, is a cleaning device that permits use oneither hand of the user, allows all available surfaces to be used forcleaning, and has a means to secure the device on the hand of the user.The device should be simple in construction as well as easy andconvenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a goal of the present invention to provide an improved cleaningdevice to solve the aforementioned problems.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a cleaning mitt with anopening for insertion of the user's hand, a section for the palm andfingers of the user, and at least two thumbholes which allow the mitt tobe rotated on the user's hand without removing the mitt. This providesfor greater dexterity when cleaning.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a cleaning mitthaving a one piece construction and made of a terry cloth oracrylic/polyester blend material.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a cleaning mitt thatis easy to use, easy to store and inexpensive to manufacture.

The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and,in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings,specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that thelanguage used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope ofthe inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the cleaning mitt 10 iscomprised of a front portion 12, a back portion 14, a wrist portion 16,and a series of thumb holes 18. Cleaning mitt 10 is constructed from aunitary tubular piece of terry cloth material that is seamed togetheralong the adjoining edges of front portion 12 and back portion 14. Asuitable composition is a combination of acrylic, cotton, polyester andstretch nylon. A tubular omnidirectional woven product may also be used.Taken together, front portion 12 and back portion 14 form surface area22. The terry cloth material is characterized by having a smooth surfaceand an opposing fabric looped surface. When formed, the cleaning mitt ofthe present invention has the smooth surface on the interior and thefabric looped surface on the exterior to facilitate the collection ofdust and dirt. Other materials capable of attracting and retaining dustand dirt may be used, including, but not limited to, natural orsynthetic fabrics such as wool or microfiber. These materials may bewoven or non-woven.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the material usedto form the cleaning mitt is an electrostatically-charged fabric thatattracts dirt and dust.

The wrist portion 16 is a closed band of material having sufficientresiliency so that it expands to slide over the hand and then contractsto firmly engage the wrist of the user. Preferably, wrist portion 16 ismade from a ribbed material composed of acrylic, cotton, polyester andstretch nylon. Other materials may be used, including, but not limitedto, LYCRA®, spandex, or rubber. Ribs 20 extend in a lengthwise directionalong wrist portion 16 allowing circumferential expansion of wristportion 16. Alternatively, the ribs may also extend in a horizontaldirection. Ribs 20 in combination with the elasticity of the material ofwrist portion 16 permits expansion of wrist portion 16 beyond the normalopening size.

Thumb holes 18 are approximately a half inch in diameter, but may belarger or smaller, and spaced apart around the circumference of cleaningmitt 10 between wrist portion 16 and the base of surface area 22. In oneembodiment, cleaning mitt 10 has four thumb holes. However, the numberof thumb holes may be more or less. The edges of each thumb hole areworked over with fabric adhesive to prevent fraying or unraveling.Alternatively, the edges of each thumb hole are worked over with thread.

In one embodiment, cleaning mitt 10 is reversible so it may be used witheither side turned out and on either hand. Thus, front portion 12 andback portion 14 are interchangeable. The user inserts his or her handinto cleaning mitt 10 through an opening in wrist portion 16 and theninserts a thumb into one of the thumb holes 18. All of surface area 22may be utilized by the user to collect dust and dirt by rotating thecleaning mitt 10 sequentially and placing a thumb into another one ofthe thumb holes 18. This process is repeated until all of surface area22 has been used for cleaning.

One advantage of this design is that the user does not have tocompletely remove the cleaning mitt from his or her hand in order toaccess a new surface area. Alternatively, a user may choose to wear acleaning mitt on both hands for optimum use of time and motion whendusting or polishing a broad surface or a single object. In anotheralternative, the cleaning mitt may be worn over a rubber or latex glove.

Another advantage of this design is that it is easy to mass produce dueto its simple shape and results in less waste of fabric, because onlymaterial in the area of the thumb holes is removed rather than addingmaterial to form individual thumb or finger compartments. An additionaladvantage of this design is that the cleaning mitt may be laundered andreused or may be disposable in nature.

The cleaning mitt of the present invention is designed to be sized tofit the hand of an average sized adult. However, cleaning mitts may alsobe provided in additional sizes to accommodate smaller or larger sizedhands. Cleaning mitts made of material having a degree of stretch to itprovides for a range of hand sizes.

In one embodiment, the cleaning mitt is primarily intended for use ondry, hard surfaces as use with a polish or liquid could result in thesesubstances passing through the fabric and coming into contact with theuser's hand. In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning mitt isconstructed with an inner liner that is impervious to moisture to allowfor use of the mitt with furniture polishes or glass cleaners.

In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning mitt is constructed with alayer of absorbent material between an inner liner and front portion 12and back portion 14 to enable the user to pick up liquid spills.

In yet another alternative embodiment, front portion 12 and back portion14 are impregnated with a cleaning solution or polish; thus avoiding theneed for two separate items.

In an additional alternative embodiment, front portion 12 or backportion 14 is made of an abrasive material, such as mesh orSCOTCH-BRITE®, to allow the cleaning mitt to be used for scrubbing andscouring of stubborn stains and/or debris.

In a further alternative embodiment, front portion 12 or back portion 14is made of chamois to allow the cleaning mitt to be used for buffing andpolishing.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthis disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention belimited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claimsappended hereto.

1. A mitt for cleaning comprising: an omnidirectional tubular sectionwith a closed end and an open end connecting to a wrist portion havingan opening in which to insert a hand and adapted to engage a wrist of auser, and a plurality of thumb holes spaced apart around a circumferenceof the mitt above the wrist portion.
 2. The mitt of claim 1 wherein themitt is constructed of two panels, the panels forming a front portionand a back portion.
 3. The mitt of claim 1 wherein the mitt is made of amaterial selected from the group consisting of terry cloth, acrylic,cotton, polyester, stretch nylon, and a combination thereof.
 4. The mittof claim 1 wherein the panels have a smooth surface and an opposingfabric looped surface.
 5. The mitt of claim 1 wherein the smooth surfaceof the panels is an interior surface of the mitt and the fabric loopedsurface is an exterior surface of the mitt.
 6. The mitt of claim 1wherein the mitt is made of a fabric selected from the group consistingof natural fabric, synthetic fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, anda combination thereof.
 7. The mitt of claim 1 wherein the mitt is madeof an electrostatically charged fabric.
 8. The mitt of claim 1 whereinthe mitt is made of chamois.
 9. The mitt of claim 1 wherein the wristportion is formed from a ribbed material, the ribbed material beingacrylic, cotton, polyester and stretch nylon.
 10. The mitt of claim 1wherein the ribbed material is selected from a group consisting ofLYCRA®, spandex, rubber or a combination thereof.
 11. The mitt of claim1 wherein the wrist portion has a plurality of ribs that extend alongthe wrist portion and allow for circumferential expansion of the wristportion, the ribs being able to extend in a lengthwise direction and ahorizontal direction.
 12. The mitt of claim 1 wherein the thumb holesare at least a half inch in diameter.
 13. The mitt of claim 1 whereinthe plurality of thumb holes is a positive whole number.
 14. The mitt ofclaim 1 wherein there are four thumb holes.
 15. The mitt of claim 1wherein the mitt is reversible so it may be used with either theinterior surface or the exterior surface turned out and on either handof the user.
 16. The mitt of claim 1 wherein the mitt is rotatable onthe hand of the user by utilizing the thumb holes.
 17. The mitt of claim1 wherein the mitt is impregnated with a product selected from the groupconsisting of cleaning solution, polish, and a combination thereof. 18.The mitt of claim 1 wherein the mitt is made of an abrasive material,the abrasive material being selected from the group consisting of mesh,SCOTCH-BRITE® or a combination thereof.
 19. A mitt for cleaningcomprising: an omnidirectional tubular section with a closed end and anopen end connecting to a wrist portion having an opening in which toinsert a hand and adapted to engage a wrist of a user, an inner liner,the inner liner being impervious to moisture, and a plurality of thumbholes spaced apart around a circumference of the mitt above the wristportion.
 20. A mitt for cleaning comprising: an omnidirectional tubularsection with a closed end and an open end connecting to a wrist portionhaving an opening in which to insert a hand and adapted to engage awrist of a user, an inner liner, the inner liner being impervious tomoisture, a layer of absorbent material, the absorbent material beingpositioned between the omnidirectional tubular section and the innerliner, and a plurality of thumb holes spaced apart around acircumference of the mitt above the wrist portion.